Archbishop Nathan Hovhannisyan, Director of the Mother See’s Department of External Relations and Protocol, told reporters that the upcoming Bishops’ Synod may be at risk of cancellation due to travel bans imposed on six bishops who are members of the Supreme Spiritual Council.
“It’s hard to say definitively whether the Bishops’ Synod will take place. At this point, six bishops face a travel ban. A synod must have a quorum and the presence of bishops, and it’s not just about numbers, but about collective decision-making. Everything seems to be pointing toward an attempt to derail, obstruct, or prevent the gathering,” he said, Panorama.am reports.
When asked if remote participation might be an option for the bishops who cannot leave the country, Archbishop Nathan responded that no clear decision has been made yet: “I can’t say anything specific at this time. It all happened just yesterday, and it requires serious discussion and decision-making.”
He was also asked whether bishops who have aligned with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s proposed church “reform” might face ecclesiastical sanction or defrocking. He replied that any such decisions would be made transparently and shared with the public.
Six members of the Supreme Spiritual Council are currently under criminal investigation, accused of obstructing the execution of a court ruling. As part of this process, their right to leave Armenia has been revoked. The Mother See has strongly condemned what it calls an unlawful government intrusion into internal church matters, in violation of Armenia’s Constitution.
The Bishops’ Synod, convened by Catholicos Karekin II, is scheduled to be held in Sankt Pölten, Austria, from February 16–19.
